One of the weirdest days of the NBA calendar delivered on its annual promise of making everybody angry. The NBA Draft Lottery has concluded, and it ended in perhaps the most stunning fashion: with the Dallas Mavericks winning the top pick, and the right to draft Duke superstar Cooper Flagg.
It was a marvelous night for Mavs fans, who have been experiencing a crisis of identity since Nico Harrison traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Without a doubt, these fans deserve some joy.
Here's how everything shook out as draft season is officially underway.
Full NBA Draft lottery results
Team | Pick |
|---|---|
Dallas Mavericks | 1 |
San Antonio Spurs | 2 |
Philadelphia 76ers | 3 |
Charlotte Hornets | 4 |
Utah Jazz | 5 |
Washington Wizards | 6 |
New Orleans Pelicans | 7 |
Brooklyn Nets | 8 |
Toronto Raptors | 9 |
Houston Rockets | 10 |
Portland Trail Blazers | 11 |
Chicago Bulls | 12 |
Atlanta Hawks | 13 |
San Antonio Spurs | 14 |
Jazz, Wizards fall out of top four
The worst case scenario for the Utah Jazz was the No. 5 pick in this draft. They got the No. 5 pick.
Of course, the Jazz can still get a solid player at No.5, but this franchise doesn't have time to add "good players." It needed Cooper Flagg, and will instead enter next year with a roster still very, very far away from competing. A brutal night for Jazz fans.
And somehow a worse night for Wizards fans! Washington also had its worst-case scenario, and its worst-case was worse than Utah's worst! Not all worsts are created equal. But they're all the worst.
Sixers don't get Flagg but keep their pick
In a season of extremes for the Sixers, the offseason started with something that was just... pretty good! Although they missed out on the ultimate prize, Sixers fans are just happy to retain their pick, which would have gone to OKC if it fell outside of the top six.
Do the Sixers keep the pick and pair another young star next to Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey, or explore trades for veterans? If I'm Daryl Morey, I'm sticking at No. 3 and building a core so that, no matter what happens to Joel Embiid, this team doesn't get stuck with an aging, potentially competitive roster.
Spurs move up, of course
Who has it easier than Spurs fans? I'll wait.
(The answer is nobody.)
In their 10th NBA Draft Lottery, the Spurs moved up for the sixth time. In the other four lotteries, they stayed where they expected to pick. They have never moved down in a lottery and now have their pick of non-Cooper Flagg prospects to pair with Wemby and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
Congrats.
Whatever.
Rockets have a decision to make at No. 10
And the decision is whether they'll actually make the pick or not. Houston went 52-30 last season and rookie Reed Sheppard was not part of the lineup for most of the year. Instead of picking another young player who rides a lot of pine, it would make sense for the Rockets to shop this pick for a proven scorer.